St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is Tuesday, March 17th, but you can expect parties to start this weekend. With 12% of the US population claiming Irish ancestry, St. Patrick’s Day hosts some of the largest celebrations of the year. The holiday extends beyond the 34.7 million Irish-Americans (that’s almost 9x the population of Ireland itself btw) to embrace the entire country with “the luck of the Irish.”

This festive day is actually a religious holiday honoring the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick; however, US celebrations focus almost totally on Irish culture, pride and fun. Americans love the music, the food, and especially the beer.

Here’s how you can enjoy St. Patrick’s Day here in the US:

Wear green. It’s festive and lucky, and if you don’t, tradition says someone who is wearing green can pinch you!

Eat corned beef and cabbage. This Irish-American favorite is not actually from the homeland of Ireland. Irish immigrants became very resourceful when money was tight, and created this classic dish by brining the most inexpensive cut of meat, brisket. It’s delicious; and perfect for a student budget! Click here for a recipe.

Watch Waking Ned Devine. This is one of my favorite feel good comedies of all time. The characters are awesome, and you’ll be able to feel the warmth of the Irish pub community all the way across the ocean. Click here to find it on Netflix.

Attend a St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The New York City parade is the largest in the US with almost 3 million people attending. It’s a traditional parade with marching bands and Irish wolfhounds leading the pack. If you can’t make it to New York, click here to find a parade near you.

Grayson Leverenz founded MBA in the USA® to help international students build networks, find jobs, and have fun in the USA. Hundreds of global professionals have benefited from Grayson’s intercultural workshops, and she has worked with people from Brazil, China, India, South Africa, South Korea, the UK, and the USA to build effective virtual teams and craft brilliant careers.